Tunisian PM-designate proposes new coalition cabinet

TUNIS, Feb 2 (Reuters) - Tunisian prime minister-designate
Habib Essid proposed a new coalition cabinet on Monday including
secularists, Islamists and smaller parties, after politicians
rejected a line-up announced last week as unrepresentative.

The new ministers included members of secularist party Nidaa
Tounes and its main rival, the Islamist Ennahda, which did not
have any posts in the earlier proposed cabinet.

"I made some adjustments so we can gather all political
forces and get to work immediately on the challenges we are
facing," Essid said.

Essid's new government will have to push through tough
economic reforms demanded by Tunisia's international lenders and
continue a campaign against Islamist militants.

Lawmakers will vote this week on whether to ratify the new
government.

Nidaa Tounes member Slim Chaker was named finance minister,
and Taib Baccouche, also from Nidaa Tounes, will be foreign
minister. Ennahda was given employment ministry and several
other junior minister posts.

"We are going to vote for this government. It's a
representative one," said Ennahda lawmaker Walid Bannani. "Its
not about how many posts one has, its about how diverse the
government is to represent all Tunisians."

Four years after its uprising against autocrat Zine
El-Abidine Ben Ali, Tunisia has been held up as an example of
political compromise and democratic transition with a new
constitution and free elections.

Consensus deal-making has been a key part of keeping the
country on track during the sometimes messy transition.

In the 217-seat parliament, Nidaa Tounes holds 86 seats and
its ally, the liberal, secular UPL party has 16 seats. Ennahda
holds 69 seats, the Popular Front 15 and Afek Tounes eight.
Essid needs the support of 109 members to ratify his government.

With its political transition complete, Tunisia's new
government must tackle high public spending and political
sensitive reforms to subsidies. Jobs, high living costs and
economic opportunities are the main worry for most Tunisians.

Security is also key. Tunisia's armed forces are cracking
down on Islamist militants who emerged after the 2011 revolution
and have carried out attacks mostly on the military. Tunisia is
also a major source of jihadi fighters traveling to Syria.
(Reporting by Tarek Amara; Writing by Patrick Markey; Editing
by Andrew Heavens and Dominic Evans)